Sunday Scribbling: Competition

Competition

I would love to say that I am not competitive. And being not involved in sports, it might almost be believable . . . unless you sit down with me to play a friendly game. I find that I really like to win. I do alright if I lose (better than I used to), but why lose when you can win? I think that being competitive can be a good thing. I strive to do better than the last time. I will not settle for doing less than my best. However, being competitive takes a bad turn when the emphasis changes. Making sure someone else does worse rather than working on my own performance, or in finding competition where it doesn’t exist through attributing intentions to other’s successes. For example, “She has more money (or fill in the blank with your favorite difference) than I do, so she must think she is better than I am.” This competition sets up boundaries, eliminates relationships, and creates animosity. This is a competition within yourself that sets you against the world.

If I can avoid that kind of competition, then a little high-spirited board game should be just fine.